USGC gets nearly $14M for grains and ethanol market development work

In Washington, D.C., new funding to the U.S. Grains Council from the Agricultural Trade Promotion Program – part of a larger “trade aid” package offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in the wake of new tariffs and global market uncertainty – will expand the organization’s global footprint and dramatically increase the promotion effort it undertakes for feed grains products, especially ethanol.

The Council was awarded just under $14 million from the one-time program, which granted a total of $200 million for organizations working in overseas market development for U.S. agriculture and food products.

Much of the funding will be used to dramatically expand the Council’s ethanol programs, which it coordinates with corn and sorghum checkoff organizations, Growth Energy and the Renewable Fuels Association, as well as USDA. Funds will also be used to stimulate new demand in existing and untapped grains markets and explore new approaches to value-added products that hold demand promise.